Biotech CEO Sues Uber After Alleged Assault

The CEO of a biotechnology company is taking legal action against Uber, claiming that one of their drivers assaulted him, leaving him with brain injuries.

Bryan Kobel, the CEO of TC Biopharm, reported that the incident occurred in April following a disagreement with an Uber driver in South Carolina. He described a conversation that began innocuously but quickly escalated into violence when the driver hit him.

“I was really taken aback. I mean, Uber is a massive company, valued at around $200 billion. When you see the Uber logo, you expect a certain level of trust,” Kobel shared during an interview on Tuesday.

He expressed frustration with Uber’s response to the situation, noting that the driver continued to accept rides shortly after the incident. “In fact, he picked up another fare just two minutes after attacking me,” Kobel recounted, adding that he provided the company with hospital records, police reports, and images of his injuries.

“About 48 to 72 hours later, they disabled my account,” he stated, asserting that Uber did not adequately vet the driver and shirked responsibility for what happened.

The driver, identified as Vadim Uliumdzhiev, a 42-year-old Russian national, was arrested after the assault, which was now being considered his second offense of this nature. He was released on a $10,000 bond and has since been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Kobel admitted he felt surprised and questioned how often such incidents might occur. “It makes you wonder, I mean, how many others have gone through something like this?” he remarked.

“It’s concerning that Uber seems to have a pattern where they prioritize their brand over user safety. If something goes wrong, they kind of wash their hands of any responsibility,” Kobel said.

He detailed that the confrontation began when he informed the driver about his service animal. The driver reportedly resisted, insisting the animal wasn’t allowed. Ultimately, Kobel asked the driver to cancel the ride and planned to confront him on the street.

“I just said, ‘I’m getting in your car,’ and the next thing I remember, I’m in the hospital,” he recalled. His lawsuit claims he suffered a serious concussion along with a head laceration that required several staples.

In response to the situation, an Uber spokesperson stated, “There is no tolerance for violence on our platform. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, Uber prioritizes safety and adheres to all applicable laws and regulations regarding worker eligibility.”